Man denies sex charge

Last updated 08:48 11/06/2014

Relevant offers

In the Blenheim District Court on Monday, Alan Nelson Wati, 41, from Riversdale, pleaded not guilty to unlawful sexual connection with a female.

He pleaded guilty to injury with intent to do grievous bodily harm, four counts of male assaults female, one count of making threats to kill/to commit grievous bodily harm, one count of unlawful assault on a female of 16 and assault on a person with a blunt instrument.

Defence lawyer Rennie Gould said she was not seeking bail for her client.

Wati will face a judge-alone trial.

He was remanded in custody to reappear in the court for a case review hearing on July 7.

Also in court on Monday, Ringi Rene, 26, from Nelson, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and driving while holding a revoked licence.

The court heard that on April 6, he was stopped by police on the Coastal Highway to Nelson. A breath test showed he was over the limit with a reading 992 micrograms of alcohol per 1 litre of breath.

His licence was revoked but he was caught again by police on April 25, driving a car and running a red light.

The judge imposed 100 hours' community work, six months' supervision and banned him from driving for eight months.